Electric panel board



June

ffl Z/ 2 W. WURDACK ELECTRIC PANEL BOARD Filed Nov. 23, 1925 17 w J4 1 WW 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ware/61 k TTOPNE.

June 4, 1929. w. WURDACK 1.715389 ELECTRIC PANEL BOARD Filed Nov. 23, 1925 4v Sheets-Shet 2 June 4, 1929., w. WURDACK A ELECTRIC PANEL BOARD Filed Nov. 23, 1925 4 SheetsSheet 3 E ource f jource C if A- w IVL v r Z0 ga g My AM June 4, 1929.

w. WURDACK ELECTRIC PANEL BOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 23, 1925 Patented June 4, 1929,

* New STATE -P NT O CE-- wnmmm WURDACK, or sr. LOUIS, missounr, assrenon 'ro wntwuanacx nLEc'raIc me, 00., or s'r. ouis, mssouar, A coaronarron or mssouan ELECT-BIC rannr. roam).

Application filed November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,875.

' This invention relates generally to electric wiring apparatus and devices and,-.more

particularly, to acertain new and useful improvement in electric panel-boards.

My invention has for its chief objects the provision of an electric panel-board of sectional structure which may be installed with convenience and facility and which affords adjustability and flexibility in circuit arrangements and connections, and the improvement -and simplification generally of electrical apparatus of the type stated. E

And withthe above and other objects in "view, my invention resides in the novel featnres of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter 'de-' scribed and pointed out in the claims- Figure l is a hip plan View, rwithparts broken away and removed, illustrating a two-unit sectional panel-boardembodying my invention;. I

2 -is a sectional view ofthe panel -board, taken approximately on vthe line 22, Figurel; p Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approaimately on the :line 33, Figure 2;

' Figure 4 is a top plan view of the basemember-of oneof the panel-board units or sections with the cover-member and all elec trical elements, removed; r

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring ofa two sectionpanel-board of my invention in connection with a threewire main circuit and two-wire distribution for eight separate lighting circuits, there I being one fuse in each circuit;

- Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrat- Qing-the wiring of the same in connection ,..':with a three-wire main. circuit and two-wire $16 distribution for four separate lighting clrcults, there being two fuse's 1n each circuit;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustratmg the Wll'lIlg of the samem connection with a two-wire mam c1rcu1tandtwo-w1re distribution for four separate lighting cir- A, cuits, therebeing two fuses-ineach-circult;

Figure 8 shows a two-unit. panel of my inention enclosed within a cabinet,,t-he latter. v being shown ,in perspective with lt S dOQlf v removed or omitted; and v Figure 9; is asectionlthrough thefpanel and cabinet... .taken- 'approximatelyf- .on] the line i Y 9-9, Figure 8..

the panel-board sections includes abase 1. constructed of suitable, insulation material and molded or otherwise produced accord ing to any'desirable or customary practice.

At its opposite side margins and preferably ,with the recesses 6,-is a channel having communication with the recesses 4 through baseopenings 9, 9. Disposed lengthwise of the base or section l through the several aligning openings 5 and 9, with its ends fitting in the recesses 6, is a cross-conducting bus-bar 1O equipped at its exposed ends with binding posts 11. loosely and removably projecting ;into seats or pockets 12 provided for the purpose in the base 1, the posts 11 thus functioning also, in their engagement with the base 1 at said seats 12, to detac-hably hold the cross-bar l0 inplace.

ving transversely across base 1 preferably midway its ends isa channel 7, and disposed .longitpdinally of the base and co-inciding Upon its upper face and on opposite sides of said central channel 7, base 1 is formed with transverse recesses 13, 13, each including a deepened portion 14 approximately in the longitudinal middle of base 1, and also a preferably stillfurtherdeepened portion 15 extending fromsaid middle recess-portion 14 to one side of base 1, as best 'seen in Figure 4.- The recesses 13 are adapted to accommodate distribution-circuit attachments or elements of the particular section or unit, as willnow bedescribed.

; Seated in the transverse recesses 13 of the base, are bus-bar sections 16, attachedv to" each of which by, and having electrical engagement with each of which only through,

their. center-contacts 17, is preferably a pair of fuse-plug sockets '18, the center contact ,17 oi one'of which, as best seen in Figure 3,

p v .is'of greater length 'than the other to project a p Referring now. more in detailand by ref 55 erence' charactersto the drawings-, each of through thejbar 16 to loosely seat in a pocket 19 provided for'the purpose in the base-l to tive contacts 1 removably and .deta'cl1ably hold the bar 16 andits supportedsockets 18 in Suitably electrically connectedto and extending laterally afidoutwardly' fromthe sockets opposite sides of the end recesses .6.

Each base-section 1 is thus loosely or-dc ta'chably equipped with a. longitudinally disposed conducting-bar 10 having one or more binding-posts 11 at each of. its. ends, two

spaced and insulated transversely disposed bus-bar sections 16 extending approximately in parallel relation and each electrically supporting, as described, a pair of fuse-sockets 18 andeach socket 18, in turn, having con nection electrically with one of the;bars' 16 and-with a conducting strip 20 extending-- outwardly upon the base and equipped with a binding-post 21, all such fixtures or attachments being preferably loosely andremovably retained in position upon the base 1 merely through pocket' engagement by 39 some of the socket-contacts andsomepf the binding posts 21.

To now operativ'ely retain the parts in position and cover the so-called live elements of the board, I employ a cover-member 23, which is also composed of insulation material preferably similar to that of base 1, and Which is adapted to fit upon and over base 1, as shown, cover. member 23- being provided with. counter-bored-apertures 24 for accommodating securing-screws 25 which entertapped recesses 26 provided therefor in the base 1, whereby the cover 23 is conveniently detachably secured to the base 1 and effectively retains the several electrical elements described inplace upon the base. The covermember ;\23 is provided within its area with circular openings 2'2 tor the accommodation vof the fuse sockets 18, which, it maybe here stated, are ,adaptedto receivethe regular fuse-plugs (not shown). At its opposite ends, the cover-section or member 23 is provided with upstanding guard-flanges 28, 2'8,

" and with preferably also triangularflanges 29, which latter project-endwise from the ends of the cover-section, on opposite sides v of the recesses 6 of the base-member 1, all

for purposes presently appearing.

. as a whole, may comprise one, two, or more.

of the units or sections described as may be required for the particular installation, the gmembers 16 beingv utilized asthe neutral ggeonnector, and the other set of the connected board being built up as required and tl recesses '13.

- distributi strip pair "o" I "electri a lyconnected thereto the out and in -It will be understood'that the panel-board,

2 V v --1,7i5,es9

ofillustration, Ihere show m6 of the units or sections in panelgboard arrangement, and

It will be further understood that this main bus-bar 30maybe'of any suitable length to electrically connect-with the cross busbars 10 ofas many sections asmay be comprised in the'panel-boa rd of theparticular installation, the bus-bar -30 at one end section of-the complete-boardbeing provided with a terminal socket 32 for connection .witlra line or service 'wire 33.. It will be also understood that ina panel-board of two or more sections, the bar-members 16 of one section are disposedkin alignment and may be integrally or;o theruds electrically connectedwith the'bar-m'ergigers 16 of'the a ljacentv or contiguous/s6 i'o'n or sections.

Se'cured to and'u o the underface oi the bars 16 of the mean "section of the board are suitable terminal sockets 345 for the "respective main rtliile- Wires' 35 and 36, the sockets 34 be g ac'comm'odated in thedeepened recesse 'por o'ns 15 of the transverse To further illustrate ihfiie ibnay (if the panel-board for distribution of circuits 1 of varioustypes, I have shown the panel-board and its-sections in connection \Vltlht-lllCG dif- 3 ferent wiring s stems, namely, a three-wire main-circuit and two-wire circuit distribu-' tion for eight separate lighting circuits, one fuse in each circuit, as 1n Figure 5, a three respective cross-bar s 10 of the two sections.

wire mainfcircui and two-wire circuit dis- .tribution for fou two fuses n ea,- a two-wire a1 ,separate lightingcircuits,

v/ ircuitand two-wire circuit f 1' four separate lighting cir- ,j ses in each c1rcu1't, as in Figure 7.

In rig-ta 5, el? (-i,cal1y connected feed bar-n rs l6 of 1e j'several units are eonnectezl rough j plugs 18 and terminal 0 with j esid of respective distribut' .circui --'i'vhile the main electrically co'nz c'ted. I i tfi'al bar-members 30 are'connee ed thr 'gh the cross-strips 10 with the other sid o'tl1e.1'espective circuits, the convenientl accessible posts 11 and 21 pern1it-. ting a1 f jonneetions to'be made with ease,

faei lit- 4 and convenience.

i g ure 6, the binding posts21 of each (5 roppositely disposed strips 20 have wires bf theseveral distribution circuits, the main bar 30 being omitted as a service .or feed connector, one set of the eonnectedba-rsections being disposed in sidewise closely Ftrs 16 being divided-,.with each division adjacent or contiguous relation, as .illus-- trated, in Figures 1 and 8. For the purpose connected to'so'urce, as shown.

And in Figure 7, the binding posts 21 of I, rouit, as m l iguie 6, and

each pair of oppositely disposed strips have suitably electrically connected thereto the out and in wires of the several respecpractical structure is produced which conforms ,to the prescribed regulations for safety in panel-board installations, and

which affords a wide and flexible range in both number and form of circuit arrangements and adjustments, the units being readily assembled and their several electrical fixtures being conveniently connected in various associated arrangements to comprise a single installation, which may be added to or taken from, should occasion require.

Obviously, there may be other arrangements of wiring and circuits to which the panel-board of the present invention may be equally well applied, and the structure of the panel-board itself and ofits unit-sections may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. And as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, which show a two-section panel-board of my invention installed within a cabinet or box, of which box 37 design-ates'the rear or back wall, 38, 38, the opposite side-walls, 39, 39 the opposite end-walls, and 40 an apertured top-wall or trim, as it is commonly termed, the several sections co-operate with the side and end walls of the box'in the formation of wiring compartments or alleys, to which alleys or compartments, when the trim 40 is in cabinet completing position, the

upstanding'flanges 28 co-operate with the trim 40 inv the formation of a so-called barrier to such compartments, the flanges 29 and the oblique inclination of their end faces protecting and guarding the posts 11 and 21 from electrical connection with an unauthorized inserted wire.

Having thus described my lIlVQIItiOIl, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A unit panel-board section includin'ga base formed intermediate its ends and upon' its under face with a pair of spaced aligning recesses and upon its upper face with spaced end recesses and an intermediate recess, there beingopcnings through the base providing communication betweenthe under and hpper recesses, said recesses providing a channel for accommodating and seating a conductingbar.

2. In a sectional panehboard, a base having a pluralityof surface-channels, and electrical elements loosely disposed upon the base,

and comprising bars seated in said channels, plug-sockets seated on said bars, and terminal-strips for the sockets extending outwardly of the base, -in combination with means comprising a cover-section fitting upon the base and oversaid 'bars and strips for retaining the same in operative position on the base, said section being apertured for accommodating said sockets, and fastening-- members engaging said section and the-base fordetachably securing the same together.

3. In a sectional panel-board, a base, fuseplug sockets disposed upon the base intermediate its opposite ends, a cover-member fitting over and upon the intermediate portion of the base and apertured for accommodating the sockets, the opposite end portions of the base being exposed, and-conductingstrips for the sockets extending outwardly of and over the exposed end-portions of the base.

4. In a sectional panel-board,-a base, time 7 plug sockets disposed upon the base intermediate its opposite ends, a cover-member fitting over and upon the intermediate por- 2 tion of the base and apertured for accommodating the sockets, the opposite end-portions of the base being exposed, conducting-strips for the sockets projecting outwardly of and over the exposed end-portions of the base, binding-posts supported by and at the outer ends of the strips, and guard-flanges upon the cover-member for the strips and posts.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM WURDAQK. 

